“No, it’s not.”
“But it can be scary.”
“Yeah.” I nod. I can smell the impending rain. The fresh aromaand sharpness in the air. This next part is for me more than it is for her. “Scary isn’t bad either, though.”
“No.” Hushed agreement. Her own heaviness she’s carrying. “Sometimes it means you’re heading down the right path at the right time.”
We settle into silence. It’s light, comfortable. The easiest it’s ever been between us. She runs her fingers down the length of Reginald’s tail then repeats the movement. I hum a tune under my breath, stopping when I see her give a nervous glance toward the ground.
“Are you going to chase Claudia?” I ask.
“It’s the first landfall of the year. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
“I’m sure you’ll get some good content for your show.”
“Probably. Maybe.” Quincy tips her chin up, eyes bright under the light of the stars. “I know I’m really good at what I do, but sometimes I wonder how much of a difference I’m making out there.”
“Are you kidding? You’re educating. Showing the cause and effect of what happens when weather is involved. You’re saving lives.” The Ferris wheel moves again, the start of our descent. “It pains me to say this, but the work you do is valuable, Monroe. You know your shit. More than most people in our field.”
“When you say that—” She sighs. Crosses her ankles before uncrossing them and resting her chin on the dinosaur’s head. “It makes it sound like I’m important. And no one in our field has ever said the work I do is important. It’s usually that I’m taking up space from a man who should have the platform I have.”
“Fuck them. You are important.” Anger rushes through me, a swift current. I roll my lips together, holding back asking for names. A list of people who have ever been shitty to her so I can make them pay. “You’ve never doubted yourself before. Why start now?”
“Change of scenery, remember? And it being scary. I’m doing things I haven’t done before, waiting for news I’m not used to waiting for, and it’s making me question my place in all of this.” Her smile is weak, fracturing at the edges. It lasts the briefest of seconds before she shrugs and relaxes. “It’ll pass. There will be a moment when I recognize I’m a badass bitch, and all will be well again.”
“For what it’s worth? You’re definitely a badass bitch.” I tug on the end of her ponytail. Lean in close so I can drop my voice to a whisper. I swear her eyes move to my mouth. “Just not at carnival games.”
That earns me a stuffed animal to the face. An elbow in my ribs and a mumbledyou are exasperating. When our car enters the platform, she stands the second the safety bar releases. She hurries over to my sister, smiling from ear to ear when Mia wraps her arms around her in a hug.
Quincy keeps Reginald tucked against her side. She tosses a final look back my way, and that feels important too.
Unknown Number
Quinny baby.
Who is this?
I had no idea you have so many suitors, Monroe. I thought I was special.
Ah. Dunn. I should’ve known it was you.
You don’t have me saved in your phone? I’m offended.
What’s up?
Many things. How is Reginald doing?
I’ve tucked him into bed every night. I haven’t heard any complaints.
If you did, I’d be concerned. He’s a stuffed dinosaur, Monroe.
Now the magic is ruined.
Did you see the latest forecast on Claudia? Upgraded to a hurricane. Landfall is the day after tomorrow near Miami.
Really? I checked two hours ago and it was still a tropical storm.
Tis the season.
